US Drivers Going Soft on Tyre Pressure Checks

According to a recent US survey conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), motorists are today paying less attention to their tyres than they were a year ago. Just over 50 per cent of drivers responded that they have checked their vehicle’s tyre pressure within the past month, compared to 70 per cent last year.

The RMA believes this decrease in attentiveness is linked to the drop in fuel prices during the past 12 months. “Our most recent survey suggests that when gas prices began to drop last fall, so did drivers’ attention to their tyres,” said Donald B. Shea, president and CEO of the RMA. He added “low tyre pressure-related crashes are to blame for 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries every year. Motorists need to understand that while proper tyre pressure will save them a couple of dollars at the pump, it will also help keep our roads safer.”

In an attempt to educate the US driving public, the RMA is working with Goodyear and Wal-Mart, encouraging all of their Tire and Lube Express outlets to offer a lane dedicated to tyre pressure checks on April 21 and 22, the start of National Tire Safety Week in the US. According to Mr. Shea, the RMA are “grateful to Goodyear and Wal-Mart for partnering with us on this project to promote tyre care and maintenance to motorists.”